Slip resistant drop cloth

ABSTRACT

A slip resistant drop cloth having an elongated body made from a material having a desired shape and weight, said body including a front side, a back side, a first end, a second end, a third end, and a fourth end. In one embodiment of the invention, the back side of the drop cloth has a slip reducing feature comprising a plurality of parallel slip resistant ridges extending from the first end to the second end and covering the back side from the third end to the fourth end. The plurality of slip resistant ridges are bonded to the material, thereby enabling the drop cloth to remain consistently in one place without slipping or sliding once deployed, on a surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to drop cloths, and morespecifically without limitation, slip resistant drop cloths.

BACKGROUND OF TITHE INVENTION

It is common in the construction and painting industry to use dropcloths to provide surface protection at a work site. By using dropcloths, a painter can prevent stray paint, splatter or other unwantedmaterials or chemicals from coming into contact with surfaces such asfloors, walls, doors, countertops, marble, linoleur le, glass,furniture, staircases, or any other type of surface at the work site.One of the main reasons for using a drop cloth is to eliminate the needto repair and/or replace such surfaces. If there is a spill, the userwill merely incur the cost and effort of deploying a drop cloth in thework zone rather than having to clean up and/or repair the affectedarea.

The use of drop cloths in the work zone can pose serious safety issuessuch as slippage to both the user and/or other individuals who need towalk on the top surface of the deployed drop cloth. For instance, apainter typically places drop cloths on the floor of a room that is tobe painted so that it covers the entire room, and then proceeds to paintthe walls of the room while standing on top of the drop cloths. Becausethe painter stands and works while standing on the drop cloths, thepainter may slip when using the drop cloths on a variety of work.surfaces, including hardwood floors, vinyl, tile, and marble. Evenworse, a painter's customer(s) can also slip and/or fall on a deployeddrop cloth especially if the drop cloth has to remain in the work zonefor an extended period of time.

A painter or user of a drop cloth can also experience other types ofslippage problems. For example, a ladder that is placed on a drop clothcan easily slip or slide when a painter or a user leans side to side, orleans forward or backwards on the ladder while using a drip cloth in thework zone. This issue can be even further exacerbated when the work zoneincludes or encompasses a stair case made of hard wood, which increasesthe chances of injury do to slippage.

Some drop cloths are fabricated cheaply and in large quantities since atypical work site may require a large area to be covered. Because ofthis requirement, a typical drop cloth may be made of a cheap, light andflexible material that is readily available such as canvas which can bevery slippery when placed on a floor or when placed on other surfaces.Essentially, walking across a conventional canvas can cause the bottomportion of the canvas to slip and slide across floors and surroundingfurniture. As such, conventional canvas is difficult to use as a dropcloth since a painter and/or other individuals standing on a piece ofthe canvas may easily slip and fall.

Additionally, some drop cloths are formed by stitching canvas withanother rubber coated fabric together, to prevent slippage. However, thestitching process may be impractical for large-scale processes, and thestitches themselves may be bulky. Further, the stitches may not beguaranteed to be leak-resistant or leak-proof.

Other slip resistant drop clothes have been developed, such as the dropcloth described by Frantellizzi in U.S. Pat. No. 7,833,619 B2. The '619patent describes a drop cloth comprised of a non-linear contouredtopographical surface having a slip reducing feature comprised of dottechnology. This slip resistant drop cloth is cumbersome to manufacturerbecause the rubberized dots are very hard to bond in a uniform fashionto the drop cloth making it expensive to produce. In essence, it is verydifficult to produce rubberized dots having a uniform center, diameter,height and spacing between them.

In light of the shortcomings in the prior art, there is clearly a needfor a slip resistant drop cloth that addresses the above-identifiedproblems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a slip resistant dropcloth for use in the construction or painting industry to provide asafer work environment. Drop clothes currently used in the constructionor painting industry are relatively unsafe since they slip or slidemaking it very dangerous for individuals to use and/or walk over them.Hence, the present invention is directed to an improved drop clothhaving the advantage of increased safety by providing slip reducingfeatures.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a slip resistantdrop cloth comprised of an elongated body made from a material having adesired shape and weight, said body including a front side, a back side,a first end, a second end, a third end, and a fourth end. The back sidehaving a slip reducing feature, wherein said slip reducing featureincludes a plurality of parallel slip resistant ridges extending fromthe first end to the second end and covering the back side from thethird end to the fourth end, wherein said plurality of ridges are bondedwith said material, thereby enabling the drop cloth to remainconsistently in one place without slipping or sliding once deployed on asurface.

An additional aspect of the invention is to provide a drop cloth thatincludes each ridge having a common height H, a common width W, and acommon space S between each ridge, wherein said height H is aboutone-thirty-seconds ( 1/32) of an inch to about one-eighth (⅛) of aninch, said width W is about one-thirty-seconds ( 1/32) of an inch toabout three-thirty-seconds ( 3/32) of an inch, and said space S is aboutone-eighth (⅛) of an inch to about one-fourth (¼) of an inch.

In a further aspect of the invention, a method of making a slipresistant drop cloth is provided. The method for making the slipresistant drop cloth comprising the steps of laying down the drop clothon a flat, solid surface, said drop cloth having an elongated body madefrom a material having a desired shape and weight, said body including afront side, a back side, a first end, a second end, a third end, and afourth end; securing the drop cloth to the flat, solid surface;spreading a compound on the back side of the drop cloth with a firsttrowel having a sickled Shaped leading edge and a flat side; forming aplurality of substantially parallel slip resistant ridges on the backside of the drop cloth with a second trowel having a sickled shapedleading edge and having a notched side used for forming said ridges,wherein the plurality of substantially parallel slip resistant ridgesextending from the first end to the second end and covering the backside from the third end to the fourth end; and allowing the plurality ofridges to bond to the back side of said drop cloth.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a new slipresistant drop cloth that emain in one place without slipping or slidingwhen used in a work zone.

In another aspect of the present invention is to provide a new slipresistant drop cloth that will prevent slip-and-fall injuries.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a new slipresistant drop cloth which is of a durable and reliable construction.

An even further aspect of the present invention is to provide a new slipresistant drop cloth which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacturewith regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is thensusceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, therebymaking such drop clothes more economically available to the buyingpublic.

Another aspect of the present. invention is to provide a new slipresistant drop cloth that prevents splatters and spills from stainingthe surface to be protected.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a new slipresistant drop cloth that can be set up wherever it is needed in theconstruction or painting industry.

Consequently, for a better understanding of the present invention, itsfunctional al advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be made to the accompanying drawings, claims anddescriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodimentsof the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the slip resistant dropcloth.

FIG. 2 is a back view of the slip resistant drop cloth of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a magnified end view showing the height of thesilicone ridges.

FIG. 4 illustrates a magnified end view showing the width of thesilicone ridges.

FIG. 5a provides a bottom perspective view of a first trowel having asickled shaped leading edge and a smooth side.

FIG. 5b provides a bottom perspective view of a second trowel having asickled shaped leading edge and a notched side.

FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of the first trowel having a sickledshaped leading edge used to spread a silicone compound or any othersuitable compound on a drop cloth.

FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of the second trowel having a sickledshaped leading edge used to form a plurality of substantially parallelslip resistant ridges on a drop cloth.

FIG. 8 represents an execution diagram for the method of making the dropcloth.

FIG. 9 is a back view of an alternate embodiment of the slip resistantdrop cloth.

FIG. 10 shows one embodiment of the invention depicting differentpatterned shapes comprised of silicone used to achieve the intendedpurpose of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made for atleast the purpose of illustrating the general principles of theinvention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by theappended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 refers to one embodiment of theslip resistant drop cloth 100. The drop cloth 100 is comprised of anelongated body made from a material having a desired shape and weightcommonly used in the construction or painting industry, namely arectangle shape, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The body of the dropcloth 100 will include a front side 3, a back side 5, a first end 10, asecond end 20, a third end 30, and a fourth end 40 as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the back side 5 of the drop cloth 100 includesa slip reducing feature made of a plurality of parallel slip resistantridges 50 extending from the first end 10 to the second end 20 andcovering the back side 5 from the third end 30 to the fourth end 40.Moreover, the plurality of ridges 50 are bonded to the material thatcomprise the drop cloth 100. When filly deployed on a surface, theridges 50 enable the drop cloth 100 to remain continuously in one placewithout slipping or sliding.

In another embodiment of the invention, the slip resistant ridges 50 aremade from silicone. In fact, there are many brands of silicone that canbe used to make the ridges 50. For instance, DAP Products Inc. makesvarious sealant products such as DAP® 100% Silicone (hereafter DAP). DAPis a registered trademark, and this company is one of the leadingmarketers of caulks, sealants, adhesives, insulating foams, spackling,glazing, and other general patch and repair products. The DAP siliconeis formulated to create a long-lasting watertight and weatherproof sealwith superior flexibility and adhesion to a variety of materials. Whencured, it is mold and mildew resistant and will not crack or shrink.Moreover, DAP silicone is low in odor, and has a minimum to maximumoperating temperature of −65° F. to ±400° F. Similarly, the applicationtemperature for the DAP silicone is between −35° F. to 140° F.

Referring now to FIG. 3, each ridge 50 on the drop cloth 100 has acommon height H 50(a), wherein said height H 50(a) is aboutone-thirty-seconds ( 1/32) of an inch to about one-eighth (⅛) of aninch. The preferred height of each ridge on said drop cloth 100 isone-sixteenth ( 1/16) of an inch.

Referring now to FIG. 4, each ridge 50 on the drop cloth 100 also has acommon width W 50(b), wherein said width W 50(b) is aboutone-thirty-seconds ( 1/32) of an inch to about three-thirty-seconds (3/32) of an inch. The preferred width of each ridge on the drop cloth100 is one-sixteenth ( 1/16) of an inch.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, the ridges 50 on the drop cloth 100 alsohave a common space S 75 between them, wherein said space S 75 is aboutone-eighth (⅛) of an inch to about one-fourth (¼) of an inch. Thepreferred spacing between each ridge 50 on the drop cloth 100 beingthree-sixteenths 3(/16) of an inch.

In FIGS. 1-2, the present invention includes a body having a desiredshape, such as a square, rectangle, triangle, circle, oval, or otherpractical shape, common sizing including but not limited to 10′×12′,9′×12′ and 12′×15′. Nevertheless, FIGS. 1-2 depict a more common shape,namely a rectangle. The body of the drop cloth 100 is made from amaterial comprising canvas, linen, hemp, flax, cotton, woven cotton,polyester, or rayon taken alone, or in combination thereof, or withanother material commonly known in the construction or paintingindustry.

FIG. 5a provides a bottom perspective view of a first trowel 500 havinga sickled shaped leading edge 510 and a flat side 505 used for spreadinga compound on the back side 5 of the drop cloth 100 such as silicone.The trowel 500 also has a handle 515.

FIG. 5b provides a bottom perspective view of a second trowel 550 havinga sickled shaped leading edge 560 and a notched side 551 that iscomprised of a plurality of notches used for forming the slip resistantridges 50 on the back side 5 of the drop cloth 100. The trowel 550 alsohas a handle 570.

In FIG. 6, a suitable first trowel 500 having a sickled shaped leadingedge 510 is illustrated in use, where the flat side 505 of the trowel500 is used for spreading a silicone compound or any other suitablecompound on the back side S of the drop cloth 100.

In FIG. 7, a suitable second trowel 550 having a sickled shaped leadingedge 560 is illustrated in use, where the notched side 551 of the trowel550 is used for forming the plurality of substantially parallel slipresistant ridges 50 on the back side 5 of the drop cloth 100. The ridges50 can be comprised of silicone or any other compound suitable forforming said ridges 50,

The unique sickled shaped leading edge of the first trowel 500 and ofthe second trowel 550 prevents silicone or any other type of compoundused to form the ridges 50 from spilling over the outer edges of eithertrowel and creating a mess. Further, the width of the first trowel 500and of the second trowel 550 is made approximately to the same width ofthe drop cloth. This will speed up the process of manufacturing the dropcloths 100 since the slip resistant ridges 50 can be formed in just onespread.

FIG. 8 represents an execution diagram 800 for the thod of making a slipresistant drop cloth 100. The method is comprised of the steps of 805laying down a drop cloth 100 on a flat, solid surface; 810 securing thedrop cloth 100 to the flat, solid surface; 815 spreading a siliconecompound or any other suitable type of compound on the back side 5 ofthe drop cloth 100 with a first trowel 500 having a sickled shapedleading edge 510 and a flat side 505; 820 forming a plurality ofsubstantially parallel slip resistant ridges 50 on the back side 5 ofthe drop cloth 100 with a second trowel 550 having a sickled shapedleading edge 560 and a notched side 551 used for forming said ridges 50;and 825 allowing the plurality of ridges 50 to bond to the back side 5of the drop cloth 100.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, in one embodiment of the invention, the backside 5 of the drop cloth 100 includes an applied coating of 100%silicone 900 spread in a substantially thin and even manner over theback side 5 in order to provide a slip reducing feature without the useof ridges 50.

In another embodiment of the invention, the back side 5 of the dropcloth 100 has a slip reducing feature made from silicone and comprisedof one of the various patterned shapes as illustrated in FIG. 10 thatincludes dots, diamonds, circles, squares, ovals, blotches, triangles orany other type of patterned shape used to achieve the intended purpose,scope and spirit of the invention.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the slip reducing featurecan be used on the back side of entry rugs, area rugs, area carpets,bathroom rugs, entry carpets, floor mats, space rugs, bathroom rugs orbathroom mats.

It should be understood that the foregoing relates to exemplaryembodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should also beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to the designsmentioned in this application and the equivalent designs in thisdescription, but it is also intended to cover other equivalents nowknown to those skilled in the art, or those equivalents which may becomeknown to those skilled in the art in the future.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICBILITY

The invention pertains to a slip resistant drop cloth for use in theconstruction or painting industry that promotes a safer work environmentby providing a drop cloth with slip reducing features that can be usedon slippery surfaces such as hardwood floors, marble, glass, linoleum,staircases, and counter tops.

What is claimed is:
 1. A slip resistant drop cloth comprising: anelongated body made from a material having a desired shape and weight,said body including a front side, a back side, a first end, a secondend, a third end, and a fourth end; and the back side having a slipreducing feature, wherein said slip reducing feature includes aplurality of substantially parallel slip resistant ridges extending fromthe first end to the second end and covering the back side from thethird end to the fourth end, wherein said plurality of ridges are bondedwith said material, thereby enabling the drop cloth to remainconsistently in one place without slipping or sliding once deployed on asurface.
 2. A slip resistant drop cloth according to claim 1, whereineach ridge having a common height H, a common width W, and a commonspace S between each ridge, wherein said height H is aboutone-thirty-seconds ( 1/32) of an inch to about one-eighth (⅛) of aninch, said width W is about one-thirty-seconds ( 1/32) of an inch toabout three-thirty-seconds ( 3/32) of an inch, and said space S is aboutone-eighth (⅛) of an inch to about one-fourth (¼) of an inch.
 3. A slipresistant drop cloth according to claim 2, wherein the preferred heightof each ridge on the drop cloth being one-sixteenth ( 1/16) of an inch.4. A slip resistant drop cloth according to claim 2, wherein thepreferred width of each ridge on the drop cloth being one-sixteenth (1/16) of an inch.
 5. A slip resistant drop cloth according to claim 2,wherein the preferred spacing between each ridge on the drop cloth beingone-sixteenth three-sixteenths 3(/16) of an inch.
 6. A slip resistantdrop cloth according to claim 1, wherein said ridges are made ofsilicone.
 7. A slip resistant drop cloth according to claim 1, whereinthe slip reducing feature provides increased sealant protection, therebyenabling the drop cloth to further protect surfaces against spills,leaks and drips in the work environment.
 8. A slip resistant drop clothaccording to claim 7, wherein the drop cloth protects against spills anddrips over surfaces that includes hardwood floors, staircases,countertops, marble, linoleum, tile, and glass.
 9. A slip resistant dropcloth according to claim 1, wherein said body is made from materialselected from the group comprising: canvas, linen, hemp, flax, cotton,woven cotton, polyester, or rayon.
 10. A slip resistant drop clothaccording to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ridges providesresistance to slipping and sliding on hardwood floors, countertops,linoleum, glass, marble, staircases, and tile floors.
 11. A method ofmaking a slip resistant drop cloth, the method comprising the followingsteps: laying down the drop cloth on a flat, solid surface, said dropcloth having an elongated body made from a material having a desiredshape and weight, said body including a front side, a back side, a firstend, a second end, a third end, and a fourth end; securing the dropcloth to the flat, solid surface; spreading a compound on the back sideof the drop cloth with a first trowel having a sickled shaped leadingedge and a flat side; forming a plurality of substantially parallel slipresistant ridges on the back side of the drop cloth with a second trowelhaving a sickled shaped leading edge and having a notched side used forforming said ridges; and allowing the plurality of ridges to bond to theback side of said drop cloth.
 12. The method according to claim 11,wherein said compound is silicone.
 13. A slip resistant drop clothcomprising: an elongated body made from a material having a desiredshape and weight, said body including a front side, a back side, a firstend, a second end, a third end, and a fourth end; and the back sidehaving a slip reducing feature, wherein said slip reducing featureincludes an applied coating of silicone for enabling the drop cloth toremain consistently in one place without slipping or sliding oncedeployed on a surface.
 14. A slip resistant drop according to claim 13,wherein the applied coating of silicone is spread in a substantiallythin and even manner over the back side to provide the slip reducingfeature.
 15. A slip resistant drop according to claim 13, wherein theapplied coating of silicone is comprised of various patterned shapesselected from the group consisting of dots, squares, circles, diamonds,triangles, blotches, or ovals to provide the slip reducing feature,